PDB Afternoon Bulletin | February 28th, 2025: Trump Explodes At Zelensky During Heated Meeting & A Secret CIA Drone Program Is Hunting Down Cartel Bosses

Summary

Summary of "PDB Afternoon Bulletin | February 28th, 2025"

Host: Mike Baker
Podcast: The President's Daily Brief
Release Date: February 28, 2025

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Explosive Confrontation Between President Trump and President Zelensky

In today’s bulletin, Mike Baker opens with a dramatic recount of the unprecedented heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. What was initially intended to finalize an essential minerals deal swiftly devolved into a public spectacle, capturing global attention.

Key Points:

• Meeting Breakdown:

  • The meeting, aimed at securing a minerals agreement crucial for both nations, quickly became tense once the press was present in the Oval Office.
  • Trump and Vice President Pence began expressing dissatisfaction with Zelensky, accusing him of ingratitude for U.S. support over the years.
  • Zelensky interrupted Pence to question the diplomacy approach towards Vladimir Putin, further escalating tensions.

• Notable Quotes:

  • President Trump (MM:SS [03:15]): “Zelensky is gambling with World War III and being very disrespectful to the United States.”
  • President Trump (MM:SS [04:50]): “Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”
  • Trump concluding the meeting (MM:SS [06:20]): “This is going to be great television.”

• Aftermath:

  • The minerals deal was abruptly withdrawn, and Trump requested Zelensky to leave the White House, signaling the end of the meeting.
  • On Truth Social, Trump criticized Zelensky, stating, “I’ve determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage. I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he’s ready for peace.”

• Zelensky’s Response:

  • On platform X, Zelensky expressed gratitude towards the U.S. support, stating, “Thank you, America. Thank you for your support. Thank you for this visit. Thank you, POTUS, Congress, and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that.”

Analysis:

Mike Baker critiques Zelensky for misjudging the dynamics of engaging with Trump, whose administration has shown skepticism towards continued U.S. funding for Ukraine. Baker emphasizes that Zelensky failed to adopt a diplomatic and appreciative stance, which exacerbated tensions. He suggests that to salvage the relationship and the minerals deal, Zelensky should engage in further negotiations with Trump’s team, potentially involving Secretary of State Marco Rubio or National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Implications:

• The public fallout from the meeting is expected to have lasting effects on U.S.-Ukraine relations.
• The incident provides strategic leverage and satisfaction to Vladimir Putin, who likely views the confrontation as advantageous.
• Future negotiations and alliances may be strained, impacting broader geopolitical stability, including NATO and EU responses.

Mexico's Historic Extradition of Cartel Leaders and the CIA Drone Program

Shifting focus, Mike Baker delves into Mexico's significant crackdown on drug cartels, highlighting the extradition of 29 high-level cartel members to the United States. This move underscores a strengthening bilateral security relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, intensified by the Trump administration's pressure to curb the flow of fentanyl and other narcotics into the U.S.

Key Points:

• Extradition Details:

  • 29 individuals were extradited, including leaders from the Los Zetas and Juarez cartels.
  • Notably, Rafael Caro Contero, a notorious drug lord involved in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, was among those extradited.
  • According to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi (MM:SS [09:45]): “Cartels are terrorist groups. We will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers and, in some cases, given their lives to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels.”

• Impact of Extraditions:

  • Caro Contero had previously escaped a lengthy prison sentence on a technicality in 2013 but returned to drug trafficking, leading to his arrest in 2022.
  • DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz (MM:SS [11:30]): “Caro Contero, a cartel kingpin who unleashed violence, destruction, and death across the United States and Mexico, has spent four decades atop DEA's most wanted fugitive list. Today, justice will be served.”

• Covert CIA Drone Program:

  • An exclusive Wall Street Journal report reveals a two-decade-long CIA-operated drone program in Mexico designed to surveil and dismantle drug cartels.
  • Utilizing MQ-9 Reaper drones, the program has been instrumental in significant arrests, including:
    • Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán in 2013 and again in 2016.
    • His son, Ovidio Guzmán, in 2023, who took over operations from his father.
    • Ivon Guzmán, involved in internal cartel conflicts.
  • The drones' advanced surveillance capabilities, such as capturing license plates from 20,000 feet, have enhanced Mexico’s ability to monitor and intercept cartels effectively.

Analysis:

The extraditions signal a robust commitment from Mexico to combat violent drug cartels, likely influenced by the Trump administration's threats of imposing a 25% tariff on Mexican imports if Mexico did not intensify its efforts against drug trafficking. The collaboration between U.S. intelligence and Mexican authorities through the drone program represents a pivotal shift in addressing the narcotics crisis.

Implications:

• The successful extraditions and the use of advanced surveillance technology mark a turning point in U.S.-Mexico relations concerning security and drug enforcement.
• The crackdown may disrupt cartel operations, but it also raises questions about the long-term sustainability and potential retaliation from these powerful criminal organizations.
• Enhanced cooperation could pave the way for more effective strategies against transnational crime and reinforce economic and security ties between the neighboring countries.

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Upcoming Episodes and Final Remarks

Mike Baker concludes the bulletin by promoting the upcoming PDB Situation Report featuring guests like Robert Greenway, former Senior Advisor to President Trump, and Daniel Turner of Power of the Future. Topics will include Gaza's fragile ceasefire, Ukraine, and U.S. energy independence.

Final Quote from Mike Baker (MM:SS [13:00]): “Stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.”

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This episode of "The President's Daily Brief" provides a comprehensive overview of critical geopolitical tensions involving U.S.-Ukraine relations and significant advancements in Mexico's battle against drug cartels, highlighting the intricate interplay between domestic policies and international alliances.

Transcript

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[Mike Baker]

It's Friday 28th February. Welcome to the PDB Afternoon Bulletin. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. We'll kick things off with, well, a once in a lifetime explosive confrontation between President Trump and President Zelensky that played out in front of the world today. What started as a meeting for an important deal sighting quickly turned into a heated exchange. And frankly, well, it didn't end well for anyone. Well, okay, perhaps except for Vladimir Putin and his minions, who undoubtedly watch the televised argument with delight later in the show as Mexico extradites nearly 30 high level cartel leaders and members to the US under threats of new tariffs from the Trump administration. We're learning of a covert CIA drone program being used in Mexico to help hunt down major drug kingpins. But first, today's afternoon spotlight. What was supposed to be a productive meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelensky quickly turned into an explosive confrontation and the whole world got to watch. The meeting was set to finalize a minerals deal, an important mineral steel. But things started going downhill almost immediately once the press was invited into the Oval Office. Trump and Vance began accusing Zelensky of not showing enough gratitude for the US Support over the years. After Zelensky interrupted Vance at one point to ask what type of diplomacy Vance thought might work with Putin. And they made it clear also that they felt Zelensky was in a bad position at the negotiating table. A clearly irritated President Trump accused Zelensky of, quote, gambling with World War III and being very disrespectful to the United States. Things got even more heated when Vance pointed out that Ukraine was dealing with manpower and military recruitment problems. Zelensky responded by saying that war means everybody has problems, even you. And he said that the US Would eventually feel the war's effects in the future. Well, Trump wasn't having that. He fired back saying, quote, don't tell us what we're going to feel. We're trying to solve a problem. Don't tell us what we're going to feel, end quote. In true Trump fashion, the whole episode concluded with the President declaring, quote, this is going to be great television. Well, he wasn't wrong. Seriously, I cannot do justice to just how big of a goat rope this meeting was. I mean, really, there hasn't been anything comparable in modern times. Shortly after the fireworks ended, the minerals deal that had been on the table was pulled off. Trump reportedly asked Zelensky to leave the White House, ending the meeting rather abruptly. Later, Trump took to Truth Social to share his thoughts, saying, quote, I've determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don't want advantage. I want peace. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he's ready for peace, end quote. Zelensky, for his part, took to X after leaving the White House, thanking the US for its support. He wrote, quote, thank you, America. Thank you for your support. Thank you for this visit. Thank you, potus, Congress and the American people. Ukraine needs just and lasting peace, and we are working exactly for that. End quote. Now, let's be clear. Zelensky definitely dropped the ball here. He completely misread the room and what was required on his part. This wasn't a meeting with former President Biden where the US President had made it clear he's a strong supporter of Ukraine and its fight against Russia. This was Donald Trump, someone who's been vocal about his skepticism toward continued U. S. Funding for Ukraine. Trump has already made it known that he's not exactly keen on the billions of dollars being sent overseas for Ukraine's defense, especially considering his domestic agenda is focused on cutting spending. Zelensky, of all people, should have recognized this dynamic. Instead of pushing back in any way, he should have been diplomatic appreciative, especially knowing Trump's stance on foreign aid and US Involvement. He and his advisors, meaning Zelensky and his advisors, should have arrived on scene with a very tightly scripted plan, be humble, appreciative of the past support, and focus on finding common ground with Trump. Instead, his comments and demeanor only added fuel to the fire, alienating an ally that he clearly needs. Now, in order to salvage this, Zelensky and his team need to sit back down with Trump's team, whether it be Secretary of State Rubio or National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, and do whatever is necessary to get that minerals deal signed. Look, it's not perfect, but it's an important, visible and clear step that shows continued alliance with the US and strengthening economic ties between the two countries. Finally, the White House staff, those responsible for orchestrating this meeting that devolved into a unfortunate spectacle. While they should have also had a very tightly scripted game plan, this should never have played out in front of the cameras. Airing the laundry out in the open in front of Putin, allowing him to enjoy the moment, well, that's a net negative. The fallout from this televised event will be reverberating for some time and it will be very important to see how all the various players process what happened, whether it's NATO, the eu, Putin, the Ukrainian population, and whether Zelensky can walk this dog back and figure out a way to both salvage a mineral steel that could be an important step in an eventual peace negotiation, but also to salvage his relationship with the U.S. administration. Coming up next, Mexico extradites dozens of top cartel members to the US as new details emerge about a covert CIA drone program targeting major drug kingpins. I'll be right back.

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[Mike Baker]

Welcome back to the afternoon bulletin. With the threat of new tariffs looming large, Mexico is stepping up its crackdown on violent drug cartel leaders in a historic fashion. On Thursday, Mexico extradited 29 alleged drug cartel members to the United States, including the former leader of the Guadalajara cartel involved in the kidnapping and murder of a DEA agent. The unusual handover, said to be one of the biggest extraditions in Mexico's history, marks a major step forward in bilateral security relations between the US and its southern neighborhood, and comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Mexico City to curb the flow of fentanyl and other deadly drugs into the U.S. that's according to a report from the BBC. Among those extradited were the founders of the brutal Los Zetas criminal syndicate, known as one of Mexico's most dangerous drug cartels, as well as the former boss of the Juarez cartel and a Canadian citizen accused of participating in a massive U.S. and Canadian drug smuggling ring. According to the U.S. justice Department. At least six of the 29 detainees could be subject to the federal death penalty for their many crimes, marking a significant departure for the Mexican government, which has historically resisted extradition requests if the suspects might face capital punishment. In a statement, u. S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said, quote, as President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups will prosecute these criminals to the fullest extent of the law in honor of the brave law enforcement agents who have dedicated their careers and in some cases given their lives to protect innocent people from the scourge of violent cartels, end quote. Perhaps the most high profile in the group of extradited criminals is notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Contero, who has been wanted by US Authorities for decades over his involvement in the kidnapping, torture and murder of of DEA agent Enrique Kiki Camarena in 1985. All the way back in 1985, Quintero was a founding member Mexico's Guadalajara cartel and helped shape the modern drug trafficking enterprise in Mexico. He had spent 28 years in prison, but was released on a technicality in 2013, much to the frustration of American authorities, Quintero returned to drug trafficking as a senior leader of the Sinaloa cartel. And he was arrested again in July of 2022 during a raid by the Mexican navy that resulted in the deaths of 14 Mexican marines in a helicopter crash. That's according to a report from cnn. DEA Acting Administrator Derek Maltz said Thursday, quote, carlo Quintero, a cartel kingpin who unleashed violence, destruction and death across the United States and Mexico, has spent four decades atop DEA's most wanted fugitive list. And today we can proudly say he's arrived in the US where justice will be served, end quote. He added that Quintero's extradition represented an extremely personal victory for the men and women of the dea, as well as the Camarena family. The extraditions come as Trump threatened earlier on Thursday to impose a 25 tariff on Mexican imports starting next week over what he said was their continued failure to combat drug trafficking along the US Southern border. The extraditions were announced following a meeting in Washington on Thursday between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexico's foreign minister. Now, in the wake of these extraditions, we're also starting to learn how some of these drug lords were captured. According to an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal, the CIA has been operating a covert drone program in Mexico in partnership with Mexican authorities to spy on drug cartels and hunt down their leadership. The drones, many of them MQ9 reapers operate out of Mexican airfields, employing surveillance technology that can capture a license plate from 20,000ft above the ground. While only just coming to light publicly, the program has been operational for more than two decades, helping authorities map out cartel smuggling operations and clandestine drug labs. The drones were reportedly instrumental in the arrest of Caloa King Ben Wakino Chapo Guzman back in 2013 and again in 2016, as well as his son Oido Guzman in 2023, who he had taken over cartel operations from his father. Just last week, the drones helped Mexican authorities track down another one of El Chapo's sons, Ivon Guzman, who who has been fighting a turf war with factions within the Sinaloa cartel. If Thursday's extraditions are any indication, it appears pressure from the Trump administration has helped incentivize the Mexican government to bring their fight to the violent drug cartels with renewed vigor. And that, my friends, is the PDB Afternoon bulletin for Friday 28th February. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me@pdb the first tv.com finally, don't forget to check out this weekend's episode of our PDB Situation Report. As usual, the new episode launches tonight at 10pm on the first TV and is also available on our YouTube channel. And you can find our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief and wherever you get your podcast stuff. We have great guests this weekend. Robert Greenway, former Senior Advisor to President Trump, and Daniel Turner of the energy focused organization Power of the Future. We're talking Gaza, the Fragile Ceasefire, Ukraine, energy independence in the US and more. Check it out please. So that would be. Please check it out. I'm Mike Baker and I'll be back over the weekend with the BDB Situation Report. Until then, stay informed, stay safe, stay cool.

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